IMPRIMATUR 

^MICHAEL  AUGUSTINE 

Archbishop  of  New  York, 

New  York,  September  /,  1897. 


Copyright,  1897,  by 
Commissariat  of  thk  Holy  I^and. 


^  — —  

I 

Contents. 

PAGE 

Introduction  5 

PART  I. 

How  to  pray  to  St.  Antony  8 

The  Pious  Union  of  St.  Antony.  .  .  .  .12 
Consecration  of  Children  to  St.  Antony  .   .  .17 

The  Paduan  Masses  16 

St.  Antony's  Militia   17 

The  Little  Chaplet  21 

St.  Antony's  Bread  22 

Tuesday,  the  Day  of  St.  Antony  24 

The  Miraculous  Responsory  of  St.  Antony  .  .27 

The  Chaplet  of  St.  Antony  28 

The  Scapular  of  St.  Antony  29 

PART  II.  (PRAYERS.) 
The  Miraculous  Responsory  (with  Notes)  .   .  3or'^ 
The  Miraculous  Responsory  of  St.  Antony  .  .31 

Act  of  Consecration  to  St.  Antony  33 

Litany  of  St.  Antony  34 

Prayer  to  his  Blessed  Tongue  38 

St.  Antony's  Favorite  Hymn  39 

Anthem  to  St.  Antony  40 

Blessing  of  St  Antony  40 

Prayer  to  the  Infant  Jesus  41 


^  ^If, 

Prayer  lor  the  Restoration  of  Things  Lost  .  .  42 

Prayer  to  obtain  Holy  Purity  43 

Prayer  for  a  Choice  of  Life  44 

Prayer  referring  to  St.  Antony's  Dread  .  .   .  .45 

Prayer  in  Need  and  Affliction  46 

Prayer  for  a  Happy  Death  46 

Prayer  for  the  Deceased  47 

The  Crusader's  Prayer  47 

PART  in. 

Novena  to  St.  Antony  48 

1st  Day — Promptitude  of  St.  Antony  in  Cor- 
responding to  the  Divine  Grace  .  .  .  ,  49 
2nd  Day — Love  of  St.  Antony  for  Suffering  .  50 
3rd  Day — The  Humility  of  St.  Antony  .  .  .52 
4th  Day — The  Patience  of  St.  Antony  ...  54 
5th  Day — Love  of  St.  Antony  for  God  ...  55 
6th  Day — The  Poverty  of  St.  Antony  .  .  .  .57 
7th  Day — St.  Antony's  Hatred  of  Sin  .  .  .  .58 
8th  Day— The  Chastity  of  St.  Antony  ...  60 
9th  Day — The  Happy  Death  of  St.  Antony  .  61 
;  The  Crusade  63 


1[ntrot)uction 


10  Catholic 


can  ignore  the 
wonderful  wave  of  devotion 
'•^  which  a  few  years  ago  began 
to  sweep  over  the  Catholic 
world.  Moved  by  the  spirit 
of  God  all  eyes  turned  as  if  by 
inspiration  to  St.  Antony,  all 
roads  led  to  his  shrine.  And  even  our 
Holy  Father  gave  expression  to  this 
public  sentiment  when  he  said  to  a 
great  admirer  of  St.  Antony:  ''My 
son,  it  is  not  enough  to  love  St.  An- 


if.  

tony,  but  you  must  make  him  loved, 
for  St.  Antony  is  the  saint  not  of  Padua 
only,  but  of  the  whole  world." 

These  words  of  our  holy  Pontiff, 
winged  as  they  seem  to  have  been 
with  prophecy,  are  daily  receiving 
increased  confirmation.  Throughout 
the  Church  St.  Antony's  name  ap- 
pears to  be  assuming  the  character  of 
a  watchword;   it  has  a  charm  that 
fascinates  all  pious  souls.    The  Saint 
I  in  Italy,  the  good  father  in  France, 
homely  Antony  in  Germany,  the  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  the  Portuguese  and 
I  Brazilian  armies,  a  bread-winner  for 
I  the  poor,  the  consoler  of  the  afflicted, 
I  St.  Antony  is  the  cosmopolitan  per- 
sonality who  has  won  the  cult  of  the 
day. 

The  Lord  has  given  to  him,  so  to 
say,  a  second,  though  invisible,  exist- 
ence, sending  him  again  to  the  world 
with  the  message  of  the  seraphic  gospel 
^  — ii> 


[  which  is  to  regenerate  all  peoples.  It 
is  the  message  of  love  to  and  confi- 
dence in  God,  simplicity  in  manners, 
purity  of  heart,  charity  to  the  poor 
and  apostolic  zeal  towards  our  neigh- 

i  bor. 

pereonal  Hppearance  of  St.  Bntoni^. 

Our  Saint  is  thus  described  by  a  contem- 
porary writer  :    "Antony  was,  like  a  genu- 
ine Portuguese,  of  very  dark  complexion. 
He  was  of  medium  height,  and  of  delicate 
i  appearance.     His  features  were  30uthful, 
j  almost  boyish,  yet  they  bore  the  trace  of  a 
quiet  earnestness.    The  forehead  was  broad; 
!  hit  piercing  intellect  was  revealed  in  his 
I  looks  ;  his  nose  was  rather  long,  and  his  lips 
!  ruby.    His  whole  outward  appearance  bore 
the  mark  of  gentleness  and  benevolence,  and 
all,  even  those  who  were  unacquainted  with 
him,  felt  themselves  in  the  presence  of  a 
saint  the  moment  they  came  in  contact  with 
him." 


poxc  to  pxa^  to  St.  Bntoni^. 

I.  The  manifold  miracles  springing 
up  everywhere  as  though  by  charm  at 
the  invocation  of  St.  Antony  must  fill 
the  hearts  of  his  clients  with  confi- 
dence. Next  to  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
our  Saint  seems  to  have  an  unlimited 
influence  with  God,  not  only  for  the 
recovery  of  lost  objects,  but  in  all  cases 
which  are  submitted  to  him.  The  uni- 


versality  of  this  prerogative  has  been 
recognized  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff 
hinivSelf.  He  is  therefore  invoked  in 
every  need  and  affliction,  but  especi- 
ally: I.  For  the  restoration  of  lost 
things ;  2.  For  the  recovery  of  health  ; 
3.  For  the  happy  issue  of  an  undertak- 
ing ;  4.  To  obtain  employment ;  5.  To 
obtain  or  preserve  purity  of  heart ;  6. 
In  the  choice  of  a  vocation. 

2.  The  essential  requisite,  there- 
fore, in  imploring  the  aid  of  St.  An- 
tony, is  a  lively  faith  and  an  un- 
bounded confidence  in  his  powerful 
intercession.  But  this  confidence 
must  not  assume  the  character  of 
superstition — it  must  be  tempered  by 
the  spirit  of  Christian  resignation.  It 
is  certainly  lawful  to  submit  to  St. 
Antony  all  our  wishes,  both  spiritual 
and  temporal  ;  but  it  must  be  done 
with  a  childlike  resignation  to  the 
decrees  of  divine  Providence.  Though 


St.  Antony's  intercession  be  great  and 
powerful,  God  will  not  grant  our 
requests  unless  they  be  conducive  to 
the  welfare  of  our  souls.  Afflictions 
and  adversities  will  never  entirely  be 
banished  from  this  vale  of  tears.  God 
often  wishes  us  to  carry  a  certain 
cross,  and  wall  not  take  it  from  us,  for 
reasons  best  known  to  Him.  But  if 
our  prayers  are  not  heard  in  one  par- 
ticular instance,  they  are  not  lost,  for 
we  may  rest  assured  that  God  w^ll 
give  us  other  and  more  precious 
graces,  instead  of  those  for  which  we 
have  asked.  We  must  not,  therefore, 
lose  courage,  if  we  are  not  heard  at 
once.  Knock  repeatedly  at  the  gates 
of  heaven,  as  you  would  at  the  house 
of  a  friend.  Perseverance  wall  insure 
success  in  the  majority  of  cases. 

3.  When  imploring  a  grace  through 
St.  Antony  we  must  be  careful  that  our 
hearts  be  free  from  mortal  sin.  There- 

—  

10 


 ^ 

fore  Novenas  should  always  begin  with 
a  good  confession,  and  fervent  holy 
Communion,  that  our  prayers  may 
rise  from  a  pure  heart  like  sweet  in- 
cense before  the  throne  of  God.  A 
great  many  overlook  this  important 
item.  They  come  to  St.  Antony  as 
enemies  of  God,  their  hands  full  of  in- 
justice, their  hearts  full  of  impurity. 
How  is  it  possible  for  him  to  plead 
their  cause  ? 

4.  If  we  wish  to  be  heard  in  an 
important  affair,  we  must  pray  to  St. 
Antony  with  instance  ;  visit  one  of 
his  shrines  or  statues  every  day  dur- 
ing the  novena  ;  receive  the  Sacra- 
ments ;  practise  some  mortification, 
and  if  possible,  have  a  Holy  Mass  said 
in  his  honor,  or  give  an  alms  for  his 
cherished  poor. 

5.  Join  the  Pious  Union  of  St. 
Antony  and  thus  become  his  perma- 
nent client. 

;  I 



1 1 


^be  IP10U6  Ulnion  of  St.  Bnton^. 

This  Pious  Association  in  honor  of  St.  An- 
tony was  canonically  erected  in  St.  Antony's 
i  Church,  Rome,  February  13,  1894.  By  a 
decree  of  August  31,  1897,  the  National  Cen- 
tre for  the  United  States  was  established  at 
the  Commissariat  of  the  Holy  Land,  Mount 
St.  Sepulchre,  Washington,  D.  C. 

OBJECT. 

1.  To  thank  God  for  the  miraculous 
power  granted  to  St.  Antony. 

2.  To  implore  his  powerful  intercession. — 
3.  To  propagate  his  devotion. —  4.  To  assist 
the  poor. 

^  .  44 

12 


OBI^IGATIONS. 

I.  Say  daily,  three  times,  Glory  be  to  the  1 
Father,  etc. — 2.  Recite  daily  the  Miraculous 
Responsory  to  St.  Antony,  or,  if  you  do  not 
know  it  by  heart,  once  the  Our  Father,  Hail 
Mary  and  Glory. — 3.  Give  an  alms  for  the 
poor  whenever  you  have  obtained  a  favor 
through  St.  Antony. — 4.  Receive  the  Sacra- 
ments on  the  feast  of  St.  Antony  (June  13), 
or  within  the  Octave. 

ADVANTAGES. 

I.  A  plenary  Indulgence  on  the  day  of 
admission,  or  the  Sunday  following. — 2.  On 
the  feast  of  St.  Antony  (June  13). — 3.  On 
the  feast  of  the  Translation  of  his  Relics 
(February  15). — 4.  On  thirteen  succeeding 
Tuesdays,  any  time  in  the  year,  when  re- 
ceiving on  those  days  the  Sacraments  and 
praying  for  the  intention  of  the  Holy 
Father. — 5.  At  the  hour  of  death. — 6.  Seven 
years  and  quadragenes  on  every  day  of  the 
Novena  preceding  the  feast  of  St.  Antony. — 
7.  One  hundred  days  indulgence  when  say- 
ing the  three  GL">rys. — 8.  One  hundred  days 
when  praying  for  the  object  of  the  Union. — 
9.  Participation  in  a  Holy  Mass  said  every 
i  — _  


Tuesday  in  Rome  and  at  the  Commissariat 
J  of  the  Holy  Land. — lo.   A  share  in  all  the 
good  works  performed  by  the  members  of 
the  three  Orders  of  St.  Francis. 

THB  THR^H  BBGRBBS  OF  THB  PIOUS 
UNION. 

First  Degree:  The  members  conscien- 
tiously perform  the  prayers  and  other  obli- 
gations of  the  Pious  Union.    (See  page  13.) 

Second  Degree:  i.  The  members  prac- 
tise the  obligations  of  the  first  degree. — 2. 
They  promote  the  interests  of  the  Pious 
Union  by  spreading  the  devotion  to  St.  An- 
tony and  enrolling  members  in  the  Pious 
Union. — 3.  They  venerate  St.  Antony  espe- 
cially on  every  Tuesday,  and  if  possible, visit 
one  of  his  shrines  or  statues  on  that  day. 

Third  Degree :  The  members  practise 
the  good  works  enjoined  by  the  two  fore- 
going degrees. — 2.  They  make  the  thirteen 
Tuesdays,  at  least  once  a  year,  for  their  own 
spiritual  and  temporal  needs  and  for  all 
intentions  recommended  to  St.  Antony.— 
3.  They  give  a  monthly  or  yearly  offering 
toward  St.  Antony's  Bread. 

li.  

14 


*  ^ 

MASSIFS  AND  PRAir:ERS  | 

of  the  Pious  Union  are  offered  and  requested: 
I.  For  the  clients  of  St.  Antony. — 2.  For 
the  recovery  of  things  lost  or  stolen, — 
3.  For  those  who  are  unemployed  that  they 
may  obtain  work. — 4.  For  the  sick  and  dis- 
tressed.— 5.  For  all  intentions  recommended 
to  St.  Antony. — 6.  For  the  souls  in  Purga- 
tory dear  to  St.  Antony. 

1.  No  charges  are  connected  with  admis- 
sion to  the  Pious  Union,  but  members  are  re- 
quested to  contribute  five  cents  for  certifi- 
cate, registration  and  postage, 

2.  The  livery  of  a  member  of  the  Pious 
Union  consists  of  a  scapular  and  cord  of  St. 
Antony,  which  can  be  obtained  at  St.  An- 
tony's Department.    (See  page  64.) 

3.  Persons  wishing  to  enter  the  Pious 
Union  should  state  the  degree  in  which  they 
wish  to  be  enrolled. 

4.  Deceased  persons  cannot  be  enrolled 
in  the  Pious  Union,  but  offerings  can  be 
made  in  their  behalf. 

5.  Children  can  be  consecrated  to  St. 
Antony.    (See  page  17.) 

iji  >h 

15 


6.  Boys  and  young  men  form  a  special  , 
branch  of  the  Pious  Union  under  the  name  | 
of  St.  Antony's  MiHtia.    (See  page  i8.)  \ 

7.  The  rules  of  the  Pious  Union  are  not 
binding  under  pain  of  sin.  Members,  how- 
ever, who  do  not  recite  the  prayers,  have  no 
part  in  the  spiritual  advantages  of  the  Union. 

8.  Offerings  received  for  St.  Antony's 
Bread  will  be  used  toward  the  education  of 
poor  students. 

Address  all  communications  to  : 

St.  Antony's  Department, 

Mount  St.  Sepulchre, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Zbc  paDuan  /Bbaseeet 

St.  Antony  was  very  devoted  to  the  souls 
in  Purgatory.  He  frequently  offered  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  for  the  deceased  inhabitants 
of  Padua,  the  city  he  loved  so  dearly.  Hence 
it  became  customary  to  have  Masses  said  for 
his  beloved  clients  in  Purgatory,  whom  he 
wishes  io  free  from  the  pains  of  fire.  Any 
assistance  tendered  to  his  helpless  friends 
will  dispose  his  tender  soul  to  mercy  and 
prompt  him  to  intercede  strongly  in  behalf 
of  those  who  thus  benefit  his  deceased 
clients,  by  their  prayers  and  the  offering  of 
the  Holy  Sacrifice. 

 ^ 

16 


Consecration  of  CbilDrcn  to  St.  Bntoni^. 

St.  Antony,  who  was  favored  by  the  ap- 
parition of  the  Infant  Jesus,  had  a  great 
love  for  children.  At  the  instance  of  their  i 
mothers  he  saved  them  from  sickness  and 
death,  and  shortly  after  his  canonization,  he 
restored  five  of  them  to  life. 

We,  therefore,  exhort  all  Christian  mothers 
to  look  to  this  protector  of  their  darlings 
and  to  place  them  into  his  arms,  where  the 
divine  Infant  rested. 

To  this  effect  the  mothers  will  send  us  a 
written  request  giving  their  address,  full 
name  of  their  child  and  also  the  day  on 

v^.  —  i 

17 


*    :  * 

I  which  they  desire  to  have  it  consecrated  to  j 

1  St.  Antony.    The  little  one  will  then  be  | 

I  placed  under  the  protection  of  the  Saint  and 

i  receive  a  certificate  of  its  consecration. 

J     The  children  shall  wear  the  cord  of  St. 

j  Antony  and  the  mothers  will  recite  for  them 

I  the  prayers  of  the  Pious  Union,  giving  an 

,  alms  to  the  poor  in  their  behalf. 

I     Children  of  both  sexes  can  be  consecrated 

i  to  St.  Antony.    Teachers  and  nurses  are  re- 

j  quested  to  promote  this  devotion. 

I  Address  :  St.  Antony's  Department. 

I 

I  St.  Bnton^'a  AiUtia. 

St.  Antony  with  the  lily  in  his  hand  and  ! 
j  the  Infant  Jesus  on  his  arm  has  always  been 
!  a  model  of  purity  for  young  souls  and  he  has 
!  shown  his  predilection  in  their  behalf  in 
various  cases,  freeing  them  from  temptations 
']  against  the  holy  virtue.    Therefore,  a  special 
:  branch  of  the  Pious  Union  has  been  estab- 
lished for  boys  and  young  men  under  his 
patronage. 

It  is  called  Militia,  that  is  warfare,  because 
with  the  aid  and  under  the  protection  of  St. 

^  ^ 

i8 


Antony,  its  members  are  called  to  become 
apostles  of  Christ  among  their  companions 
to  fight  the  demon  of  impurity  and  to  form 
among  themselves  a  league  of  prayer. 

The  chief  features  of  the  Militia  are:  Sim- 
plicity of  mind,  purity  of  heart,  the  spirit  of 
the  apostolate  and  a  fervent  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin.  The  Militants  gain  the  same 
indulgences  as  members  of  the  Pious  Union. 
(Seep.  13.) 

Prayers — The  Militants  shall  recite  daily 
the  following  prayers:  i.  The  Miraculous 
Responsory  to  St,  Antony,  ox  one  Our  Father, 
Hail  Mary  and  Glory  instead,  if  they  do 
not  know  it  by  heart. — 2.  Three  times  the 
Glory,  in  honor  of  the  most  Holy  Trinity. — 
3.  They  may  add  the  Little  Chap  let  of  the 
Im??iaculate  Conception  of  the  Blessed  Vir- 
gin,   (See  p.  21. ) 

Rules. — The  Militants  are  advised  to  ob- 
serve the  following  rules:  i.  Go  to  Confes- 
sion and  receive  Holy  Communion  monthly. 
— 2.  Make  it  a  point  to  go  to  Confession  as 
soon  as  possible,  whenever  you  have  the 
misfortune  to  commit  a  mortal  sin. — 3.  Make 
a  daily  examination  of  conscience,  especially 
with  regard  to  the  holy  virtue. — 4.  Every 


19 


day  make  an  act  of  mortification,  no  matter 
how  small,  in  order  to  gain  strength  to  resist 
all  temptations  and  to  atone  for  your  past 
sins. — 5.  When  assailed  by  a  temptation,  re- 
cite the  Blessing  of  St.  Antony.  (See  p.  40. )  | 
— 6.  Whenever  you  hear  any  improper  Ian-  | 
guage  atone  for  it  by  saying  devoutly  Glory, 
— 7.  Cultivate  the  spirit  of  simplicity  by 
avoiding  all  pride,  boasting  and  quarreling, 
and  by  practising  kindness  to  others — in 
imitation  of  St,  Antony. — 8.  Work  for  the 
conversion  of  other  boys  and  young  men. 
— 9.  If  possible  pay  a  short  visit  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  every  day. — 10.  Daily 
practise  an  act  of  kindness  in  honor  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin. — 11.  In  honor  of  St.  Antony 
give  an  alms  according  to  your  means  for 
the  poor  students,  whenever  you  obtain  a 
grace  through  his  intercession. — 12.  Once  a 
year  make  a  retreat,  according  to  the  advice 
of  your  spiritual  director. 

We  exhort  all  boys  and  young  men  who 
love  the  holy  virtue  to  join  the  Militia  and 
spread  it  among  their  companions. 


20 


Zbc  Xittle  Cbaplet  of  tbe  ITmmaculate 
Conceptiom 

It  consists  of  three  sets  of  one  large  and 
four  small  beads  each,  in  honor  of  the  twelve 
glories  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  i:,  recited 
as  follows : 

In  the  name  of  the  Father,  etc. 

Firsl  set:  Blessed  be  the  Holy  and  Im- 
maculate Conception  of  the  Most  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary!  One  ''Our  Father,"  four 
''  Hail  Marys    and  Glory." 

Second  set :  Blessed,  etc.  "  Our  Father," 
four    Hail  Marys  "  and    Glory. " 

Third  set :  Blessed,  etc.  **  Our  Father," 
four    Hail  Marys    and  '*  Glory." 

(Tnree  hundred  days  indulgence  every 
time — a  plenary  indulgence  once  a  months) 

OrJ)er  of  IReception  into  St»  Bntotti2'6 

I.  Veni  Creator.  2.  Short  Exhortation. 
3.  Act  of  Consecration*  4.  Singing  of  the 
Responsory  and  of  the  three  Glorys.  5. 
Recitation  of  the  lyittle  Chaplet.  6.  Litany 
of  St.  Antony.    7.  Blessing  of  St.  Antony. 


21 


St.  2lntoni^'0  JISreaD^ 

^HE  recent  growth  in  devotion  to  St. 

Antony  has  become  so  marked  as 
to  call  forth  expressions  of  astonish- 
ment throughout  the  Catholic  world. 
It  has  taken  the  form  of  a  new  charity 
known  as    St.  Antony's  Bread.'' 

All  any  person,  w^ho  desires  to  par- 
ticipate in  this  charit}^,  has  to  do  is  to 
write  his  or  her  request  on  a  piece  of 
paper,  adding  a  promise  that  if,  by  the 
expiration  of  a  given  time,  St.  Antony 
*  * 

22 


^  ^ 

should  secure  its  fulfilment,  a  certain 
sum  of  money  will  be  donated  to  buy 
bread  for  the  poor.    Among  the  latter 
may  justly  be  numbered  the  poor  stu- 
dents, who,  like  St.  Antony,  aspire  to 
the  priesthood.  Those  who  contribute 
towards  their  support  in  this  manner 
perform  at  once  an  act  of  charity  as 
well  as  an  act  of  devotion.    Such  per- 
sons should  write  their  requests  on  a 
slip  of  paper  and  send  the  same  to  S^. 
Antony' s  Departme7it^  Mount  St.  Sepul- 
chre, Washington,  D,  C.  These  written 
requests  will  be  deposited  at  the  Statue  1 
of  St.  Antony,  to  whom  special  pray-  f 
ers  are  said  weekly  for  the  benefactors  | 
of  the  students  and  their  intentions.  \ 
It  will  be  well  to  accompany  such  re-  [ 
quests  with  a  Novena  of  nine  days  or 
nine  Tuesdays  to  the  Saint.  • 

— * — 


23 


I 


^ueeDa^  tbe  2)a^  ot  St.  Bntonis* 

St.  Antony  died  on  Friday,  June 
13,  1231  ;  but  in  order  to  satisfy  the 
devotion  of  the  people  who  flocked  in 
great  numbers  to  behold  for  the  last 
time  the  heavenly  beauty  of  his  coun- 
tenance, his  funeral  was  deferred  until 
the  following  Tuesday,  June  17.  The 
miracles  which  St.  Antony  wrought 
on  this  day  of  blessed  memory  were 
so  numerous  and  remarkable  that  the 
love  and  gratitude  of  the  faithful  con- 


24 


*  ^« 

secrated  this  day  to  St.  Antony,  and  I 
the  belief  became  popular  that  any 
petition  asked  through  his  interces- 
sion on  that  day  would  be  granted. 

St.  Antony  himself  manifested  how 
pleasing  this  devotion  is  to  him.  In 
the  year  1617  he  appeared  to  a  pious 
lady  of  Bologna  who  had  besought  his 
intercession  in  a  very  important  mat- 
ter, and  said  to  her  :  ' '  Visit  my  picture 
in  the  Church  of  St.  Francis  for  nine 
consecutive  Tuesdays  and  your  prayer 
shall  be  heard. ' '  The  lady  followed  his 
directions  and  obtained  the  desired 
favor. 

This  devotion  in  a  short  time  be- 
came general  throughout  Italy  and  ' 
other  countries.  But  the  faith  of  the 
people  extended  the  nine  Tuesdays  to 
thirteen,  in  memory  of  his  death,  w^hich 
occurred  on  the  13th  day  of  June.  The 
Church  sanctioned  this  pious  practice 
by  granting  the  following  graces  : 
^  _  4* 


* —   ^  ^ — 41 

I  A  plenary  indulgence  on  every 
Tuesday  of  the  year  to  all  those  who 
receive  the  sacraments  and  on  that  day 
;  visit  a  Franciscan  church  where  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  is  exposed,  praying 
for  the  intention  of  the  Holy  Father, 

2.  A  plenary  indulgence  once  a 
i  year  on  thirteen  consecutive  Tuesdays 
i  to  all  the  members  of  the  Pious  Union 

of  vSt.  Antony,  who,  on  those  Tuesdays, 
receive  the  Sacraments,  and,  being 
I  truly  penitent,  visit  some  church  or 
■  public  oratory,  and  there  pray  for  ihe 
intention  of  the  Holy  Father. 

3.  A  plenary  indulgence  to  all  the 
faithful  who  visit  a  Franciscan  church 

;  on  one  of  the  nine  Tuesda^^s  immedi- 
I  ately  preceding  the  feast  of  the  Saint 
(June  13). 

4.  An  indulgence  of  7  years  and  7 
quarantines  on  any  Tuesday  of  the  year 
when  visiting  a  Franciscan  church. 


Zhc  Atraculoue  IRcaponeor^  of 
St,  Bntonis. 

One  of  the  most  efficacious  prayers 
to  St.  Antony  is  the  Responsory.  It 
was  composed  by  St.  Bonaventure  who, 
filled  with  admiration  for  the  great 
Saint,  condensed  in  a  few  words  the 
countless  graces  which  St.  Antony 
grants  to  his  pious  clients. 

This  pious  hymn  has  been  chanted 
from  time  immemorial  at  the  tomb  of 
the  Saint  in  Padua,  and  is  frequently 


27 


^ — ■  ^. 

recited  by  the  Fathers  at  the  express 
desire  of  some  pious  pilgrim  for  a  par- 
ticular intention. 

It  is  well  to  recite  it  in  every  ne- 
cessity, and  especially  in  order  to  re- 
cover some  object  lost  or  stolen. 

The  Church  has  granted  an  indul- 
gence of  ICO  days  for  each  recitation 
of  the  Responsory,  and  a  plenary  in- 
dulgence once  a  month. 

XLbc  Cbaplet  of  St,  Bntoni^, 

It  is  a  pious  practice  to  honor  St. 
Antony  by  the  recitation  of  this  chap- 
let  in  honor  of  the  thirteen  miracles 
contained  in  the  Responsory.  This 
chaplet  consists  of  thirteenOur  I^a^/ierSy 
Hail  Marys  and  Glorias  and  the  Re- 
sponsory, 39  beads  arranged  in  13 
groups  of  3  beads  each.  On  the  first 
bead  of  every  group  say  the  Our  Father, 

^_  —  ^ 

58 


on  the  second  the  Hail  Mary  and  on 
the  third  the  Glory  be  to  the  Father, 
At  the  end  the  miraculous  Responsory 
is  recited  on  the  medal. 

The  Chaplet  needs  no  special  bless- 
ing and  can  be  recited  on  the  fingers.  It 
has  been  enriched  with  the  following 
indulgences  :  loo  days  once  a  day  for 
the  13  Our  Fathers,  etc.,  and  100  days 
each  time  for  the  Responsory. 

tCbe  Scapular  of  St.  Bnton^. 

This  livery  of  St.  Antony  is  made  of 
I  gray  wool  and  bears  the  image  of  the  Saint 
with  the  Infant  Jesus  in  his  arms.  Sur- 
rounding the  picture  is  the  blessing  of  St. 
Antony.  The  reverse  of  the  scapular  shows 
a  representation  of  the  reliquary  containing 
the  Sacred  Tongue  with  the  words  which 
St.  Bonaventure  addressed  to  it  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  translation  of  the  relics  of  the 
wonder-worker. 


^  


29 


THE  MIRACULOUS  RESPONSORY. 


-  1^-  P 

n 


1  f  mir  -  a  -  cles  thou  fam  would'st  see:  Lo!  er  -  ror, 
N-H  K — ^  K  K — ^ 


death,  ca-lam  -  i  -  ty,   The  leprous  stain,  the  de-mon 

^   _ .  .  N 


1 


flies.    From  beds  of     pain     the    sick    a  -  rise. 


i 


CHORUS. 


>  D  P  I     v\>  \> 

The  hun-gry    seas     fore-go  their  prey,  The  pris  -  o- 
 ^         N  J  ^  N 


'S3. 


^  u  y  T  '  '  :  :  ^  " 

ner*s  cruel  chains  give  way ;  While  palsied  limbs  and  treasures 


1 


^  ' 

lost     Both  young  and  old      re  -  cov  -  ered  boast. 


Zbc  Airaculoue  'Keaponaoris  of 
St.  Bntoni2  of  paDua. 

If  miracles  thou  fain  would' st  see  : 
Lo  !  error,  death,  calamity, 
The  leprous  stain,  the  demon  flies, 
From  beds  of  pain  the  sick  arise. 

The  hungry  seas  forego  their  prey, 
The  prisoner's  cruel  chains  give  way  : 
While  palsied  limbs  and  treasures  lost 
Both  young  and  old  recovered  boast. 

^  ^ 

31 


>ii  

And  perils  perish,  plenty's  hoard 
Is  heaped  on  hunger's  famished  board  : 
Let  those  relate,  who  know  it  well, 
Let  Padua  of  her  Patron  tell. 

The  hungry  seas,  etc. 

To  Father,  Son,  may  glory  be, 
And  Holy  Ghost,  eternally. 

The  hungry  seas,  etc. 

Pray  for  us,  St.  Antony. 
That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of 
the  promises  of  Christ. 

Xct  Tile  IPrai2* 
O  God  !  Let  the  votive  commemo- 
ration of  Blessed  Antony,  Thy  Con- 
fessor, be  a  source  of  joy  to  Thy 
Church,  that  she  may  always  be  for- 
tified with  spiritual  assistance,  and 
may  deserve  to  possess  eternal  joy. 
j  Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

I        100  days  iiididgaice  every  time. 

^  _  

32 


^  ^ 

Bn  Bet  of  Consecration  to  St  Bntoni^. 

0  glorious  St.  Antony,  servant  and 
friend  of  God,  I  salute  thee  through 
the  most  loving  Heart  of  our  Divine 
Savior  Jesus  Christ,  whom  thou  didst 
bear  in  thy  pure  arms  under  the  form 
of  a  child.  I  choose  thee  to-day  as  my 
patron,  advocate  and  father,  I  place 
all  my  cares  and  temptations  in  thy 
hands.  I  earnestly  resolve  never  to  for- 
sake thee.  I 

Great  Saint,  lily  of  celestial  purity,  j 
and  vanquisher  of  concupiscence,  ob-  i 
I  tain  for  me  and  all  thy  other  clients  \ 
perfect  purity  of  body  and  soul.  | 

1  also,  in   imitation  of  thy   zeal,  j 
promise  to  lead  others  to  the  knowl- 
edge, the  love  and  the  vService  of  God 
through  my  own  example  and  counsel. 


^  ^ 


33 


Xitani^  ot  St.  antoni?. 

<  ORD,  have  mercy  on  us. 

"    Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 

God,  the  Father  of  heaven,  have  mercy  on  us. 

God  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world,  have 

mercy  on  us. 
God  the  Holy  Ghost,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Holy  Trinity,  one  God,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Holy  Mary,  conceived   without  sin,  pray 

for  us. 

St.  Antony  of  Padua,  pray  for  us. 
*  ^ 


St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 
St.  Antony, 

thee. 
Be  merciful 
Be  merciful 


glory  of  Friars  Minor, 
lily  of  virginity, 
gem  of  poverty, 
example  of  obedience, 
mirror  of  abstinence, 
vessel  of  purity, 
star  of  sanctity, 
model  of  conduct, 
beauty  of  paradise, . 
ark  of  the  testament, 
keeper  of  the  Scriptures, 
teacher  of  the  truth, 
preacher  of  grace, 
exterminator  of  vices, 
planter  of  virtues, 
conqueror  of  heretics, 
terror  of  infidels, 
consoler  of  the  afSicted, 
searcher  of  consciences, 
martyr  in  desire, 
terror  of  the  devils, 
horror  of  hell, 
performer  of  miracles, 
finder  of  lost  things, 
helper  of  all  who  invoke 

,  spare  us,  O  Lord ! 
hear  us,  O  Lord  ! 

35 


From  all  evil, 
From  all  sin, 

From  the  snares  of  the  devil, 
From  pestilence,  famine  and  war, 
From  eternal  death, 
Through  the  merits  of  St.  Antony, 
Through  his  ardent  charity, 
Through  his  zealous  preaching, 
Through  his  desire  of  martyrdom. 
Through  his  strict  observance  of  obe- 
dience, poverty  and  chastity. 
On  the  day  of  judgment. 
We  sinners,  beseech  Thee,  hear  us. 
That  Thou  vouchsafe  to  lead  us  to  true 

penitence, 
That  Thou  vouchsafe  to  inflame  us 

with  divine  love. 
That  Thou  vouchsafe  to  let  us  ever 
enjoy  the  protection  of  St.  Antony, 
That  Thou  vouchsafe  to  give  us,  by 
the  merits  of  St.  Antony,  the  gift  of 
true  contrition,  humility  and  con- 
templation, 
That  Thou  vouchsafe  us  the  grace, 
through  the  intercession  of  St.  An- 
tony, to  overcome  the  world,  the 
flesh,  and  the  devil, 


36 


That  Thou  vouchsafe  the  assistance  of  St. 

Antony  to  all  who  invoke  him  in  their 

necessities,  we  beseech  Thee,  hear  us. 
That  Thou  vouchsafe  graciously  to  hear  us. 
Son  of  God,  we  beseech  Thee,  hear  us. 
Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 

the  world,  spare  us,  O  Lord. 
Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 

the  world,  hear  us,  O  Lord. 
Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 

the  world,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Christ,  hear  us. 
Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O  blessed  Antony. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray. 

Almighty  and  eternal  God,  Who  didst 
glorify  Thy  faithful  confessor  Antony  with  '\ 
the  perpetual  gift  of  working  miracles,  gra- 
ciously grant  that  what  we  confidently  seek 
through  his  merits  we  may  surely  receive 
through  his  intercession.  Through  Christ 
Our  Lord.  Amen. 

 '■  * 

37 


*   — « 

j     praiser  to  tbe  mceecb  tongue  of 
j  St*  antonij. 

I     O   blessed  Tongue  !   that  always 

j  blessed  the  Lord,  and  made  others 

I  bless  and  praise  Him  ;  it  is  now  mani- 
fest what  great  merits  thou  dost 
possess  in  the  sight  of  God. 

I     Pray  for  us,  St.  Antony, 

I     That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of 

I  the  promises  of  Christ. 

I 

i  Let  7CS  pray, 

i 

O  Almighty  God,  who  alone  dost 
j  perform  miracles,  grant,  we  beseech 
1  thee,  that,  as  thou  didst  preserve  the 
]  tongue  of   thy  holy  Confessor,  St. 
Antony,  incorrupt  after  death,  we, 
through  his  intercession  and  after  his 
example,  may  be  worthy  of  praising 
and  blessing  Thee  forever.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


St.  Bntoni2'0  jparorttc  "fci^mn  to  tbc 

O  Glorious  Virgin,  ever  blest, 
All  daughters  of  mankind  above, 

Who  gavest  nurture  from  thy  breast 
To  God  with  pure  maternal  love  : 

What  we  have  lost  through  sinful  Eve, 
The  blossom  sprung  from  Thee  re- 
stores, 

And  granting  bliss  to  souls  that  grieve, 
'      Unbars  the  everlasting  doors. 

O  gate  tliioug^  which  has  passed  the 
King  ! 

O  hall  whence  light  shone  through 
the  gloom  ! 
The  ransomed  nations  praise  and  sijig 
The  Offspring  of  the  virgin  womb  ! 

Praise  from  mankind   and  heaven's 
host. 

To  Jesus  of  a  virgin  sprung; 
To  Father  and  to  Holy  Ghost, 

Be  equal  glory,  ever  sung.  Amen. 

*  ^ 

39 


antbem  to  St.  'Bntom. 

O  Hispania's  progeny, 

Fear  of  all  the  faithless  host, 
Light  newborn  of  Italy, 

Buried  treasure,  matchless  boast 
Of  the  Paduan  city  : 
Antony,  with  patron  power, 

Jesus'  grace  for  us  obtain, 
Lest  the  briefly  granted  hour 

To  the  fallen,  flow  in  vain, 
Time  of  heavenly  pity. 


JSleasin^  of  St.  Bntoni^. 

Behold  the  cross  f  of  the  Lord  !  Fly, 
ye  evil  powers  !  f  The  lion  of  the  tribe 
of  Juda  t  the  root  of  David  has  con- 
quered !  Alleluia  !  Alleluia  I 


40 


prater  to  tbc  IFnfant  5e6U6  in  tbc 
Brm9  of  St.  Bntoni^. 

O  sweet  Infant  Jesus,  Thou  best  and 
only  hope  of  afHicted  souls,  I  prostrate 
myself  at  Thy  feet  and  beseech  Thee, 
through  Thy  immeasurable  love  and 
grace,  whereby  Thou  didst  visit  Thy 
blessed  servant  St.  Antony,  and  com- 
fort and  embrace  him,  to  come  to  me 
at  his  intercession  and  let  me  taste 
how  sweet  Thy  presence  is  to  the  souls 
that  trust  in  Thee. 

•ir  ^ 

41 


*  

prai^cr  to  St.  Sntoni^  for  tbe  "Resto* 
ration  of  Zbirxge  Xoat  or  Stolen. 

O  blessed  St.  Antony  !  The  grace 
of  God  has  made  thee  a  powerful  advo- 
cate in  all  necessities,  and  the  patron 
for  the  restoration  of  things  lost  or 
stolen :  to  thee  I  turn  to-da}^  with 
childlike  love  and  heartfelt  confi- 
dence. Oh,  how  many  thousands  hast 
thou  miraculously  aided  in  the  recov- 
ery of  lost  goods  !  Thou  w^ast  the 
counselor  of  the  erring,  the  comforter 
of  the  afflicted,  the  healer  of  the  sick, 
the  raiser  of  the  dead,  the  deliverer  of 
the  captive,  the  refuge  of  the  afflicted  : 
to  thee  do  I  hasten,  O  Blessed  St.  An- 
tony !  Help  me  in  my  present  afflic- 
tion. I  recommend  what  I  have  lost 
to  thy  care,  in  the  secure  hope  that 
thou  wilt  restore  it  to  me  if  it  be  to  the 
greater  glory  of  God  and  to  the  spirit- 
ual benefit  of  my  soul,  that  I  may 
praise  and  thank  thee,  in  time  and 

*  

42 


eternit}',  for  thy  glorious  intercession 
in  my  behalf.  Amen. 

prai^er  to  Obtain  tbe  (3race  ot  Ibol^ 
Ipurits. 

O  purest  St.  Antony,  who  through 
thy  angelic  virtue  hast  been  made 
worthy  to  be  caressed  by  Jesus,  to  hold 
Him  in  thy  arms  and  press  Him  to 
thy  heart,  I  entreat  thee  to  cast  a 
benevolent  glance  upon  me,  a  poor 
sinner.  By  the  mere  touch  of  thy 
garment  thou  hast  communicated  that 
most  precious  of  all  gifts,  holy  purity. 
Oh,  deliver  me  by  thy  powerful  inter- 
cession from  all  thoughts  and  actions 
against  the  holy  virtue,  that  I  may 
become  a  pleasing  object  in  the  eyes 
of  Jesus  and  His  Immaculate  Mother. 

Pray  for  me  that  my  heart  and  soul 
may  remain  pure  and  undefiled  until 
death,  and  that  I  may  rather  die  than 
oflfend  God  by  mortal  sin.  Amen. 

[4  ^ 

43 


prai^er  tor  tbe  Ibapps  Cboicc  of  a 
State  in  %\tc. 

O  Blessed  St.  Antony,  thou  wast 
especially  enlightened  by  God  to  know 
the  station  in  life  wherein  thou  didst 
attain  such  a  high  degree  of  holiness; 
graciously  obtain  for  me,  I  beseech 
thee,  the  grace  from  God  that  I  may 
know  and  be  able  to  embrace  in  spite  of 
all  obstacles  the  station  in  life  to  which 
I  am  called  and  in  which  I  may  the  more 
easily  attain  eternal  salvation.  Amen. 


prater  to  St.  Bntonis* 

Composed  b}-  Cardinal  Parocchi  for  those 
who  practise  the  charity  of  St.  Antony's 
Bread. 

QLORIOUS  Wonder-worker,  Father 
of  the  Poor,  who  in  a  miraculous 
manner  didst  disclose  a  miser's  heart 
buried  in  his  gold,  because  thou 
hast  received  a  heart  devoted  to  the 


44 


*  — ■ — »it. 

I  consolation  of  the  needy,  and  who, 
j  when  offering  our  prayers  to  the  Lord, 
I  obtainest  their  gracious  hearing,  accept 
:  as  a  token  of  gratitude  the  alms  which 
i  we  place  before  thee  in  aid  of  the  poor. 
[  Grant  that  they  may  prove  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  suffering  and  to  our 
own  benefit.    In  thy  wonted  benevo- 
lence assist  us  both  in  our  temporal 
necessities,  but  especially  in  our  spirit-  i 
ual  wants,  now  and  at  the  hour  of  our  , 
,  death.  Amen. 

100  days'*  Indulgence  oiice  a  day, 
\  ■ 

j       prai^cr  in  1Rce^  anD  Btniction. 

i 

j  O  dear  St.  Antony,  father  of  the 
'  poor  and  afflicted,  a  poor  sinner,  I  seek 
1  thy  help  and  counsel  and  fly  to  thy  care 
I  and  protection.  Have  mercy  on  me, 
I  St.  Antony,  Oh,  have  mercy  on  me, 
I  for  the  hand  of  the  Lord  has  touched 

*  

45 


me,  and  divine  justice  has  visited  me 
for  my  sins.  O  loving  patron,  behold  ! 
my  miserable  condition  and  the  bitter 
anguish  of  my  heart.  Intercede  for 
me  with  my  loving  Savior  that  this 
bitter  chalice  may  pass  from  me.  Yet 
not  my  will,  but  His,  be  done  in  thy 
poor  servant.  Amen. 

prai^er  for  a  fjappis  Deatb^ 

O  glorious  St.  Antony,  invincible 
conqueror  of  death,  who  didst  restore 
so  many  to  life,  protect  me  from  a 
sudden  and  unprovided  death  and  my 
soul  from  mortal  sin,  in  order  that  I 
may  always  love  God  and  remain  in 
his  holy  grace.  Amen. 

prai^er  for  tbc  DeceaeeD. 

Have  compassion,  dear  St.  Antony, 


46 


upon  the  faithful  departed,  particu- 
larly upon  the  souls  of  my  deceased 
parents,  relatives,  friends,  and  bene- 
factors who  are  detained  in  the  flames 
of  Purgatory.  Pray  for  them  that 
they  may  be  speedily  admitted  to  the 
blissful  vision  of  God.  Amen. 

Cbe  CruaaDer'a  ©raiser. 

(To  be  said  at  morning,  noon  and  night.) 

•  Divine  Eternal  Father  !  I  offer  Thee 
the  Precious  Blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  in 
reparation  for  my  sins  ;  for  the  wants 
of  Holy  Church  ;  for  the  wants  of  the 
Hoi  y  Land  ;  for  the  conversion  of  the 
poor  sinners  and  for  the  release  of  the 
suffering  souls  in  Purgatory.^ 


47 


HAovcm  to  St*  Hntoni? 

QRANT,  O  Lord,  that  the  grace  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  ma}^  enlighten 
our  souls  and  inflame  our  hearts  that 
while  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  Thy 
infinite  Majesty  we  may  worthily  med- 
itate on  the  virtues  of  Thy  servant  St. 
Antony. 

*-  * 

48 


— — ■  ^ 

jflret  2)ai2» 

Consideration. — Promptitude  of  St. 
Anto7iy  in  cor7'esponding  to  divine  grace. 
Let  us  consider  how  the  saint  called 
by  God  to  the  order  of  the  Augustinian 
Canons  hastened  to  renounce  the  hon- 
ors to  which  his  illustrious  birth  en- 
titled him  and  the  riches  which  by 
right  belonged  to  him.  He  promptly 
obeyed  the  divine  will  and  offered  to 
God  the  first-fruits  of  his  soul,  so 
well  cultivated  by  his  mother  and  at 
a  very  early  age  received  the  religious 
habit. 

Let  us  consider  the  great  debt  which 
we  contracted  with  God  by  Baptism. 
And  let  us  resolve  to  fulfil  the  prom- 
ises which  we  made  at  that  moment 
through  our  god-parents.  Let  us  de- 
spise the  vanity  of  the  things  of  the 
world  and  respond  without  hesitation 
to  the  call  of  divine  grace. 


49 


^  —  

PRAYER. 

O  God,  grant  us,  through  the  merits 
of  St.  Antony,  the  grace  to  despise 
the  goods  of  this  world,  to  follow  Thee 
in  the  way  of  humiliations  and  to  de- 
tach our  hearts  from  everything  which 
could  prevent  obeying  Thy  holy  inspi- 
rations to  the  end  that  we  may  attach 
ourselves  to  Thee  who  art  the  sole 
source  of  truth  and  eternal  felicity. 

Say  the  Respoyisory  once  and  the 
Pater,  Ave,  Gloria,  13  times. 

Practice— IsIaV^  three  acts  of  faith  daily 
until  next  Tuesday  in  union  with  St.  Antony 
that  your  heart  may  not  be  closed  to  the  call 
of  divine  grace. 

Note— The  exercises  are  the  same  for  each 
day  of  the  Novena,  except  the  consideration 
and  the  particular  prayer  which  is  adapted 
to  it. 

SeconD  5)a^» 

Consideration.  —  Loze  of  St. 
Ant07iy  for  Suffering —l^^i  us  con- 


*  ^ 

sider  how  the  saint  at  the  sight 
of  the  glorious  relics  of  the  five 
Franciscans  martyred  in  Morocco, 
and  impelled  by  a  desire  to  shed 
his  blood  for  Jesus  Christ  and  to  at- 
tain a  greater  degree  of  perfection, 
entered  the  Franciscan  Order  and  left 
for  Africa  to  seek  a  martyr's  crown 
but  how,  prevented  by  sickness,  he 
could  not  attain  the  object  of  his 
desire.  He  sought  to  make  up  by  fast- 
ing and  thus  became  a  martyr  of 
penance. 

Let  us  consider  that  if  we  are  not 
called  to  suffer  martyrdom  for  the  faith 
we  ought  at  least  to  restrain  our 
passions  and  sensuality  by  placing  far 
from  us  everything  which  might  cause 
us  to  offend  God. 

PRAYER. 

O  Jesus  my  Savior,  how  great  a  dis- 
tance are  we  removed  from  thy  faith- 

*  4i 

51 


I  fui  servant.  He  in  his  love  for  Thee 
i  yearned  to  shed  his  blood  for  Th}^ 
j  glory.  And  we  do  not  knov^^  how  even 
j  to  sacrifice  our  sinful  desires  and 
}  mortify  our  irregular  appetites.  Grant 
1  us,  O  Lord,  by  the  intercession  of  St. 

Antony  the  grace  to  realize  our  deplor- 
I  able  state,  to  abandon  the  paths  of  sin 
and  to  become  true  Christians  and 
penitents  upon  earth,  so  that  we  may 
be  of  the  number  of  the  elect  for  all 
eternity. 

'  Practice — Practice  daily  until  next  Tuesday- 
three  acts  of  ino7'tificatio7i  by  depriving  your- 
self of  some  little  pleasure  or  luxury  in  union 
with  St.  Antony  to  obtain  the  grace  of  sub- 
duing our  passion. 

Consideration.  —  The  humility  of 
St.  Antony, — Let  us  consider  how  St. 
Antony,  although  endowed  w4th  pro- 
found learning  and  deeply  versed  in 


52 


*  ~. 

the  most  sublime  sciences,  always 
sought  to  hide  his  erudition  and  other 
accomplishments  so  as  to  escape  the 
praise  of  men,  and  loved  to  pass  for  an 
ignorant  and  imperfect  man. 

We  ought  as  far  as  possible  to  hide 
the  qualities  of  our  soul  from  the  eyes 
of  earthly  creatures,  and  if  we  are 
obliged  to  make  them  known  let  us 
try  at  least  not  to  yield  to  vanity. 


PRAYER. 

O  amiable  Jesus,  when  can  we  merit 
to  be  the  object  of  Thy  pleasure,  we 
who  allow  ourselves  to  be  dominated 
by  the  spirit  of  ambition  and  vanity  ; 
who  seek  to  be  applauded  for  the  least 
good  we  do,  without  reflecting  that 
whatever  we  possess  is  ours  only  by 
Thy  liberality.  By  the  love  of  St. 
Antony  drive  from  our  hearts  every 
germ  of  vanity  so  that  we  may  realize 


53 


our  own  nothingness,  and  thus  merit 
thy  mercy. 

Practice — Meditate  for  five  minutes  daily 
until  next  Tuesday,  in  union  with  St.  Antony, 
upon  your  many  sins  and  your  helplessness, 
to  obtain  the  grace  of  humility. 

JFourtb  2)ai^. 

Consideration.  —  The  patience  of 
St.  Antony. — Let  us  consider  how  our 
Saint,  maltreated  by  the  heretics  in 
many  parts  of  Italy,  loaded  with  in- 
juries b}^  his  enemies,  nevertheless 
preserved  in  the  midst  of  these  out- 
rages an  invincible  patience,  and,  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  the  Savior, 
prayed  God  without  ceasing  to  convert 
the  first,  and  to  pardon  the  second. 

Let  us  resolve,  in  imitation  of  St. 
Antony,  to  support  with  patience  such 
injuries  as  may  befall  us  in  the  future, 
and  to  pray  for  those  who  do  us  harm. 


PRAYER. 

O  gentle  Jesus,  who  by  word  and 
example  hast  taught  us  the  virtue  of 
patience  and  of  pardoning  injuries, 
take  pity  on  us  who  are  unable  to  sup- 
port even  the  least  offence,  and  suffer 
us  not  to  be  dominated  by  a  desire  for 
revenge.  By  the  love  of  St.  Antony, 
grant  us  the  grace  to  receive  every  hu- 
miliation in  expiation  of  our  offences, 
so  that  having  thus  satisfied  Thy  jus- 
tice and  pardoned  our  brothers,  we 
also  may  merit  the  pardon  of  our  sins. 

Practice — Say  the  Our  Father  three  times 
daily,  until  next  Tuesday,  for  all  those  who 
have  injured  you  in  the  past. 

fiftb  Dais* 

Consideration. — Love  of  St,  Antony 
for  God. — Let  us  consider  the  Saint  so 
full  of  love  for  his  Creator,  and  with- 
out a  single  thought  which  might 


55 


direct  him  from  God.  His  heart  was  so 
detached  from  the  things  of  the  world, 
that  he  could  not  find  pleasure  in  any- 
thing which  did  not  come  from  God, 
or  w^hich  did  not  belong  to  Him. 

Let  us  desire,  in  imitation  of  St. 
Antony,  to  love  God  above  all  things, 
so  that  all  our  thoughts  may  be  con- 
stantly directed  towards  heaven. 

PRAYER. 

O  gentle  Savior,  Thou  alone  art 
worthy  of  all  the  aiTections  of  our 
hearts  ;  and  yet,  alas  !  we  serve  Thee 
with  only  a  divided  love,  in  order  to 
love  creatures.  It  was  for  Thee  that 
we  were  created.  Grant  then,  O  Lord, 
that  after  the  example  of  our  Saint  we 
may  burn  with  love  for  Thee;  that  our 
only  happiness  here  below  may  be  to 
serve  Thee  and  live  for  Thee  who  alone 
art  worthy  to  possess  our  hearts. 


Practice — Say  three  Our  Fathers  and  Hail  I 
Marys  daily  until  next  Tuesday,  in  honor  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  in  union  with  St.  Antony, 
to  obtain  the  grace  of  a  more  perfect  love  of 
God. 

Sutb  2)ai2» 

Consideration.  —  The  poverty  of  St. 
Antony, — Let  us  consider  how  our 
Saint,  impelled  by  love  of  evangelical 
poverty,  abandoned  his  rich  inheri- 
tance, despised  earthly  goods,  refused 
with  a  holy  indignation  the  magnificent 
presents  which  Ezzelino  sent  him,  by 
driving  from  his  presence  the  messen- 
gers of  that  tyrant,  saying  :  Go  tell 
your  master  that  I  shall  not  share  with 
him  the  spoils  of  the  poor. ' ' 

In  view  of  this  disinterestedness,  let 
us  take  the  firm  resolution  to  detach 
ourselves  from  riches,  which  are  the 
source  of  so  many  evils,  and  if  we  pos- 
sess them,  let  us  resolve  that  our  hearts 
will  not  be   attached  to  them  ;  that 

*  ^ 

57 


if  we  are  poor,  we  may  not  desire  to 
become  rich,  because  at  the  hour  of 
death  we  w^ill  have  to  leave  all  things 
behind. 

PRAYER. 

O  amiable  Jesus,  source  of  all  real 
good,  who  became  man  and  vouchsafed 
to  embrace  poverty  to  teach  us  to  de- 
spise the  things  of  the  world,  grant 
us,  by  the  love  of  St.  Antony,  the 
grace  to  be  his  imitators  in  detachment 
from  everything  which  can  estrange 
us  from  Thee,  and  to  despise  earthly 
riches,  in  order  to  merit  the  possession 
of  the  riches  of  heaven  for  all  eternity. 

Practice — Practice  an  act  of  kindness 
towards  the  poor  daily  until  next  Tuesday, 
or  give  an  alms  for  their  relief  in  honor  of 
the  poverty  of  St.  Antony,  to  obtain  the 
spirit  of  detachment. 

Seventb  2)a^* 

Consideration. — 5 / .  Antony' s 
hatred  of  sin. — Our  Saint  desired  so 


58 


ardently  to  preserve  his  innocence 
that  he  was  able  to  remain  free  from 
mortal  sin.  He  was  moreover  inde- 
fatigable in  his  sermons  in  exhorting 
sinners  to  abandon  the  occasions  of 
vice.  Let  us  resolve  for  the  future 
to  have  an  implacable  hatred  of  mortal 
sin,  never  to  commit  it  and  to  aid 
our  neighbor  to  avoid  it  by  our  good 
example  and  our  charitable  conduct. 

PRAYER. 

O  my  beloved  Jesus,  who  triumphed 
over  sin  by  dying  on  the  cross,  grant 
us,  by  Thy  love  of  our  Saint  which  en- 
abled him  to  triumph  over  the  evil  one 
and  to  deliver  the  souls  of  so  many 
who  were  his  victims,  the  grace  that 
he  may  aid  us  also  to  vanquish  the 
enemies  of  our  soul.  Grant  that  we 
may  take  a  firm  resolution  to  detest  sin 
and  to  destroy  it  within  us,  so  that  Thy 
precious  blood  may  not  be  shed  in  vain, 


59 


but  may  deliver  us  from  the  slavery  of 
Satan. 

Practice — Make  three  acts  of  contrition 
daily  until  next  Tuesday  in  order  to  obtain 
the  grace  of  exemption  from  mortal  sin. 


iBlgbtb  jE)a^.  i 

Consideration. — The  chastity  of  St,  | 
Antony, — Let  us  consider  the  vigilance  j 
which  our  Saint  kept  over  his  senseaj 
and  how  he  permitted   nothing  to  | 
tarnish  the  purity  of  his  soul  or  to 
wound  that  supreme  virtue  which  ele- 
vates man  and  renders  him,  so  to  speak, 
equal  to  the  angels. 

Let  us  resolve  to  keep  a  strict  surveil- 
lance over  our  senses,  which  are  the 
!  cause  of  the  greatest  part  of  our  faults, 
j  Let  us  take  the  resolution  to  guard  with 
I  a  holy  jealousy,  according  to  our  state, 
I  the  precious  treasure  of  purity. 


 ^ 

PRAYER.  I 

O  merciful  Jesus,  we  confess  at  Thy 
feet  that  the  too  great  liberty  we  have 
allowed  our  senses  has  rendered  us  . 
guilty  of  many  faults.    Have  pity  on  ; 
us,  O  Lord,  and  grant  us,  through  the 
merits  of  St.  Antony,  the  grace  to  be 
more  watchful  in  the  future,  and  never  ' 
to  yield  to  the  temptations  of  the  devil. 

Practice — Say  three  Hail  Marys  every  ''\ 
morning  and  evening  until  next  Tuesday,  to 
obtain  the  grace  of  preserving  holy  purity. 

fltntb  Das. 

!     Consideration. — The  happy  death 
of  St,  Antony. — Consider  the  Saint,  ar-  ' 
rived  at  the  end  of  his  earthly  career,  ■ 
full  of  merit  and  adorned  with  the  most 
heroic  virtues.    Assisted  by  the  Im- 
maculate Virgin,  he  rendered  his  soul  ; 
to  God,  and  went  to  receive  from  Him 
the  eternal  reward  of  his  labors.  We 
should  remember  that  if  we  wish  to  | 

1^  - 
6i 


